MUSCAT, MARCH 28
The future of Oman national football team is looking very bright following the announcement of Oman Football Association (OFA) on the appointment of Moroccan coach Tariq Sektioui who will lead Red Warriors in the coming phase replacing the Portugal’s coach Carlos Queiroz. The move is widely seen as a fresh start, with hopes of achieving positive results and long-term technical stability. Oman Observer met with former players and domestic experienced coaches to identify the most important technical pillars that the new coaching staff should focus on to reach the desired level.
The participants agreed that the first and most important step is to build a clear and consistent playing identity for the national team. This should be supported by continuous development, investment in players at all levels, and giving the coach enough time to implement his ideas and achieve targets. The coaching experts also stressed that the upcoming phase will require an integrated work that combines proper technical planning with strong institutional support. This will allow the new technical staff to build a competitive team capable of meeting fans’ expectations and returning to regional and continental competitions.
STABILITY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
Jamal Bakhsh al Balushi, former national team player and domestic coach, highlighted that building a clear technical identity is the foundation of any successful team. “The importance of adopting a fixed playing style is very critical as this will ensure players clearly understand their roles in all match situations. The defensive organisation and tactical discipline are essential, as strong teams are built from solid defending. Reducing spaces between lines and improving team positioning are crucial elements. Improving transitions between defence and attack is another significant technical element which will describe as a key factor in modern football. In addition, the player selection should be based on technical suitability rather than reputation, he said. He concluded his statement by emphasising the need for squad stability, gradual team building, and focusing on the mental aspect by instilling a winning mentality to handle pressure.
BALANCE DRIVE PROGRESS
Hamdi Hoobes, former national team player, pointed out that having a clear attacking identity must be combined with realism, especially as the team has recently struggled with possession without effectiveness. “ The need to improve performance in the final third and decision-making, alongside focusing on fast transitions, which often decide matches in modern football.
Also, building a strong defensive system goes beyond the backline, requiring proper pressing organisation and compactness between lines. It is very important to maintain a “spine” of the team to ensure stability, while renewing the squad with younger players to build for the future, especially ahead of major competitions such as the AFC Asian Cup.” he concluded.
IDENTITY AND ENVIRONMENT
Oman’s former U-17 head coach, Hilal al Aufi, affirmed that every coach has his own philosophy but success depends on building a balanced tactical identity that covers defence, attack and transitions, while matching the abilities of Omani players. “The player selection acted as one of the most difficult tasks which must align with the coach’s tactical approach and include a balance between experienced and young players.” he said.
“The physical preparation is another key element which is closely linked to the level of the domestic league. I advice for stronger cooperation between the national team staff and clubs to improve player readiness. Also, there is a need for continuous communication between the coach and players to build confidence and motivation. In addition, the importance of a supportive environment from the association and media should give the coach enough time to implement his vision and working within a clear long-term plan.” he ended.
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